Much To Do About Writing.
This is my journal about my experiences and thoughts on writing, with particular reference to writing for children and the education market, but maybe a few other things mixed in.
www.anitaloughrey.com

Thursday, May 25, 2017

A visit to Random House

One of this year’s SCBWI Industry Insider Events was a visit
to the Random House Publishing House where Editors Carmen McCullough and Naomi
Colthurst talked us through their publishing process.

Carmen McCullough

Naomi Colthurst

Random House only take agented manuscripts, unless the
author has forged a relationship with an editor.

When they receive a manuscript from an agent they talk as a
team in an editorial meeting and then an acquisition meeting where everyone would
have read the whole book. All reading is done in their own time. Carmen and
Naomi will often read five to six titles a week.

It is unusual for something to go to acquisitions and not
get through. Once acquired the book is scheduled and there is a structural
edit. Structural edit deadlines vary. Some may tie in with specific events.
Delivery dates will be specified in the contract. Naomi specifies a month in
the first instance. Carmen often allows more than a month but if the edits drag
on she will reduce to two weeks. These are additional edits that happen after a
structural edit with an agent.

A structural edit can go 2 or 3 rounds before going to the
Editorial Two Team for copy edits. Naomi has never taken on a book that does
not need editing for at least two rounds. Copy edits are often with an out of house
freelance editor. When it is approved it will then go to the Production Team. The
whole editing schedule usually takes about a year.

Six months before the book is due to be launched Publicity
will work on feature ideas, press and events. There are also rigorous cover
meetings.

From start to finish the whole process may take two years
with everyone working in unison.

…the book goes on and on as Random House continue to find
ways in which they can keep marketing and publicity going.

Overall Random House aim to:

Make the big brands bigger

Reinvent the Classics with new cover looks and
picking a hero title each year to pitch a high-level campaign that is often
tied into events like Science Week.

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About Me

I write illustrated children's fiction and non-fiction and teacher resources for primary school. I also have two regular monthly columns in the national writing magazine, Writers' Forum, one about writing for children and the other about writers and their research. I teach creative writing and do lots of school visits.
For more information about me, check out my website: www.anitaloughrey.com